Reedbeds & composting toilets
Once measures have been taken to reduce water-use as far as possible, there are a number of more major changes that are often advocated to make buildings more water-efficient and/or to reduce pollution.
Reedbeds
Reedbeds can be installed to help filter and neutralise sewage for households using off-mains sewage systems such as septic tanks.
Compost toilets
Compost toilets avoid the use of water entirely in the disposal of human waste and are especially suitable for households that are off-mains water. Of the compost toilets available, it is generally accepted that those with ceramic pans and special-purpose compost chambers are preferable to the stand-alone plastic-moulded variety, which tend not to be as durable or easy to maintain. Compost chambers need quite a lot of space, so may not be always be suitable for conventional private homes.
At Green Building Store we believe that these systems should be specified, designed and preferably installed by specialists who can assess the individual situation and advise accordingly.
For sewage treatment, reed beds, composting toilets and water conservation consultancy, we recommend Elemental Solutions, Tel: 01981 540728, www.elementalsolutions.co.uk.